Life before revelations: Joseph Smith Jr. was born in Sharon, Vermont and at the age of eleven moved with his family to the western New York village of Palmyra. This village was highly affected by the Second Great Awakening. Due to this, numerous camp meetings and revivals would occur during Joseph Smith’s early life. Smith’s family was highly religious and did not all hold to the same beliefs and doctrines. However, we know Smith was a fervent believer in visions and at one time tended to lean towards Methodism. Because of divisions among family, Smith grew to dislike organized religion.
Revelations and the Latter Day Saint movement beginnings: In 1820, Smith experienced his first vision in which he said God told him his sins were forgiven and that the present organized churches of the day had “turned aside from the gospel”. Three years later, Smith claimed he was visited by an angel named Moroni who revealed the location of a book of golden plates. Smith would visit the hill where the golden plates of “reformed egyptian” for about four years until he finally located this book, what would become the Book of Mormon. Through the use of seer stones, these plates would be translated and the complete translation of the Book of Mormon would be completed in 1829. Smith would ask a group of eleven witnesses to sign statements testifying they had seen golden plates to prevent misbelief when story was told to future converts. The eleven witnesses had not actually seen the plates because Moroni had taken them back after Smith was done translating. After the translation was completed, Smith and his followers were able to go out and gain converts to this new faith. During the life of Smith, the Mormons would experience experience persecution. This abuse would come at the hands of Mormon neighbors in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois.
Criticism, Methods: Many people were skeptical of Joseph Smith. Not only because of what seemed to be a fantastic story with regards to how he gained these new revelations from God, but also because before of his past money-digging and trial accompanying this practice. People also completely rejected the practice of polygamy and believed it was not only unchristian, but also totally unacceptable behavior. There was a plethora of theological criticism against Mormonism. People were also threatened because of Smith’s intention on establishing a theocracy. Smith wanted to create what he called a “theodemocratic” society. Mainstream scholars believe that there is no such thing as “Reformed Egyptian” and that he was a “pious fraud” and excellent “mythmaker” who used the tales of visions to convert. Throughout the movement, there are instances in which Smith is forced to describe visions and attain testimony from “witnesses”.
Goals, Successes, Death: Smith was bent on establishing a New Jerusalem which would be a Mormon “Zion” or utopia. The first site for this would be in Missouri. Mormons would be expelled after the 1838 Mormon War. Joseph Smith planned to establish millennial Kingdom of God which would include theocratic rule over the whole Earth. Smith would become the king. Smith wanted to make Nauvoo an independent territory with the right to call out federal troops in its defense. Because of negative responses in Washington, Joseph Smith also ran for president to make these things a reality. In the end, Smith would firmly establish a faith that now includes 14.25 million (split into two denominations). Despite differing views on him, most agree that Smith was one of the most influential, charismatic, and innovative people in American religious history. Smith was killed in an angry mob attack while in jail in 1844 at the age of 38.
References: Martin Harris was the prosperous neighbor of his “in-laws” who helped finance the move of Smith and his wife to Harmony (Oakland), Pennsylvania. Martin also helped with the translation of the golden plates while serving as scribe (before Moroni punished Smith and took back plates). Harris also financed the publication of the Book of Mormon.
Sidney Rigdon was a convert to Mormonism who rose to second command of the Church. After this, Smith and Rigdon grew close. Both Rigdon and Smith played prominent roles within the bank they founded. Even when Smith would run for president, Rigdon would support him as a vice presidential candidate.
(December 23, 1805 – June 27, 1844)
Contributions: Latter Day Saint movement
Life before revelations: Joseph Smith Jr. was born in Sharon, Vermont and at the age of eleven moved with his family to the western New York village of Palmyra. This village was highly affected by the Second Great Awakening. Due to this, numerous camp meetings and revivals would occur during Joseph Smith’s early life. Smith’s family was highly religious and did not all hold to the same beliefs and doctrines. However, we know Smith was a fervent believer in visions and at one time tended to lean towards Methodism. Because of divisions among family, Smith grew to dislike organized religion.
Revelations and the Latter Day Saint movement beginnings: In 1820, Smith experienced his first vision in which he said God told him his sins were forgiven and that the present organized churches of the day had “turned aside from the gospel”. Three years later, Smith claimed he was visited by an angel named Moroni who revealed the location of a book of golden plates. Smith would visit the hill where the golden plates of “reformed egyptian” for about four years until he finally located this book, what would become the Book of Mormon. Through the use of seer stones, these plates would be translated and the complete translation of the Book of Mormon would be completed in 1829. Smith would ask a group of eleven witnesses to sign statements testifying they had seen golden plates to prevent misbelief when story was told to future converts. The eleven witnesses had not actually seen the plates because Moroni had taken them back after Smith was done translating. After the translation was completed, Smith and his followers were able to go out and gain converts to this new faith. During the life of Smith, the Mormons would experience experience persecution. This abuse would come at the hands of Mormon neighbors in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois.
Criticism, Methods: Many people were skeptical of Joseph Smith. Not only because of what seemed to be a fantastic story with regards to how he gained these new revelations from God, but also because before of his past money-digging and trial accompanying this practice. People also completely rejected the practice of polygamy and believed it was not only unchristian, but also totally unacceptable behavior. There was a plethora of theological criticism against Mormonism. People were also threatened because of Smith’s intention on establishing a theocracy. Smith wanted to create what he called a “theodemocratic” society. Mainstream scholars believe that there is no such thing as “Reformed Egyptian” and that he was a “pious fraud” and excellent “mythmaker” who used the tales of visions to convert. Throughout the movement, there are instances in which Smith is forced to describe visions and attain testimony from “witnesses”.
Goals, Successes, Death: Smith was bent on establishing a New Jerusalem which would be a Mormon “Zion” or utopia. The first site for this would be in Missouri. Mormons would be expelled after the 1838 Mormon War. Joseph Smith planned to establish millennial Kingdom of God which would include theocratic rule over the whole Earth. Smith would become the king. Smith wanted to make Nauvoo an independent territory with the right to call out federal troops in its defense. Because of negative responses in Washington, Joseph Smith also ran for president to make these things a reality. In the end, Smith would firmly establish a faith that now includes 14.25 million (split into two denominations). Despite differing views on him, most agree that Smith was one of the most influential, charismatic, and innovative people in American religious history. Smith was killed in an angry mob attack while in jail in 1844 at the age of 38.
References:
Martin Harris was the prosperous neighbor of his “in-laws” who helped finance the move of Smith and his wife to Harmony (Oakland), Pennsylvania. Martin also helped with the translation of the golden plates while serving as scribe (before Moroni punished Smith and took back plates). Harris also financed the publication of the Book of Mormon.
Sidney Rigdon was a convert to Mormonism who rose to second command of the Church. After this, Smith and Rigdon grew close. Both Rigdon and Smith played prominent roles within the bank they founded. Even when Smith would run for president, Rigdon would support him as a vice presidential candidate.
Sources:
"Joseph Smith: Campaign for President of the United States." - Ensign Feb. 2009. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. <http://www.lds.org/ensign/2009/02/joseph-smith-campaign-for-president-of-the-united-states?lang=eng>.
"Joseph Smith." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Feb. 2013. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Smith>.
"Primary Sources/Joseph Smith, Jr./First Vision Accounts/1832." - FAIRMormon. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. <http://en.fairmormon.org/Primary_sources/Joseph_Smith,_Jr./First_Vision_accounts/1832>.
"THEOLOGICAL QUESTIONS FROM CHRISTIANS." Theological Criticism of the Mormon Movement. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. <http://www.religioustolerance.org/lds_crit.htm>.